Expression device



Dec. 28 1926. 1,612,634

C. H. HANSON EXPRESSION DEVICE Filed Feb. l5, 1222 2 Sheets-Sheet-l L1 y l l Z ZIV/maval? MHz/M Dec. z8, 192e.. 1,612,634

C. H. HANSON EXPRESSION DEVICE Filed Feb. l5, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2a23 www@ .entecl 28, 19.25.

tilhlllED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLINTON E. HANSON, OF CHICfeGO, LLINOIS, ASSG-NOR TO THE MOTOR PLAYER COR- ?OR-ATIGN, F CHICAG-, ILLIIS, A. CRCRATON OF ILLINOIS.

EXFRESSION DEVICE.

An ilicaton filed February' 3 5, 192.2.

This invention relates to automatic inusi- "al instruments and is more specifically concerned with improvements in a device shoivn and described in Patent No. 1,231,800, issued July 8, 1917, to Alti-ed Swenson.

Brietly, this device comprises tivo chainbers, one being in communication with the atmosphere, the other with an air punip, and two ports each aliording cennininicatioii between the chambers; there being a yieldable valve ttor one port actuated by the air pressure on the valve, and a positively .acting valve tor the other port. vhose positively 'cting valves are adapted to be controlled by holes'in a tracker, which are arranged to be uncovered by tl e note sheet. ln ope 'ating an instrument according to the above patent, 't has been toiind that the ,fieldable valve i f i. teiulency to flutter and vibrate which ci :i slight noise and results in oper- ,fr too slovvly Ytor eil'ective results in inusic irocuction. Furthermore, the yieldable valve resists the passage ot air inoinentarily with a peculiar an 1 then opens suddenly no se which detrimental to the satisiactory operation et the instrument.

(hie oi the objects ottiny invention there :toi-e, is the construction oit a yieldable valve tor use in such a pneumatic device ivhich eliminates this objectionable noise and which pern'iits the valves to respond quieldy in ac- `rice with the opening and closing of the positively acting valves. Another object is the provision ot uch a valve construction that the closing springs tor a series of then operable under dinerent pressures, inay all f oit uiii'iorin size and material. A further uci object is the provision ont an adjust i covice :ier varying tension or pressure under vvh ich thel valve opens, and which shall be shui-ile, e'iective and capable ot bei l y desired position.

'lhe ineens itoi' carrying out the above ohjccts will be more fully iorth in the followingv description which relates to the drawings and the essential characteristics oit niy '.ivention will be suniinarized in the claiins.

ln the drawings, Fie. 1 is a 'front elevation oit a playerl piano having the lovver Yliront panel removed and showing a part oit the valve inechanisni embodied in an expression device. lig. 2 fs a Yfront elevation et the expression device iaving the cover reinoved and showing part or the valve mechanism in Serial No. 536,678.

section; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse section talien on 'the line 4-4 in Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a vertical. section on an en larged scale taken on the line 5 5 in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 1, l have shown a player piano as coinprising a casing '10 having a roll boX (not shown) in the upper part ot' the casing. and a motor-driven air puin) 11 in the lower part of the casing. The puinp exhausts air troni the Wind chest 12, through conduits 13 and 14, while an expression device 16 operates through a conduit 1V) to inodity the air tension by adinitting atn'iospheric air inore or less t'reely through the conduit 13. This device is automatically controlled troni the note sheet through the niediun'i ot conduits l?, which are connected to independent openings in the tracker bar.

The expression device itsel't comprises,

rietly, a series ot chambers 20, 21, Q2, and 24, which are separated by partitions 25, 26, 27 and 2S, and a series ci ports 29 and 30 Which provide coininunication between such chambers. The chamber 2O is in coininuni` cation with the atmosphere through a port 35, and the cha .ier 24 is in communication With the conduit through a port 36. The loiv through the ports 29 and the port 35 is restrained l y yieloable valves 3?, while the tloiv tirough the reinaining ports is controlled by positively actuated valves 41.

lilly invention is directly concerned With the yieldable valves, all ot which are identi cal, and accordingly only one ot tnose valves will be described. Referring then to Fig. 5, each valve is shoivn as coinprising a strip ot flexible material 51 which is anchored on one end as at 52, to the under side of a partition; the other end being free to slide back and forth as thevalve is respectively opened and closed. Secured to the under side ot the llexible strip, l have shown tvfo ineinbers 50, and 5l which torni a collapsible valve. rlhe ineinber 51 niay be provided with a longitudinal groove 54 in which the tree end o1 an L-shaped spring 55 is adapted to rest; this spring being employed 'tor holding the valve against the under surface ot the partition whereby the associated port is closed.

In the carrying out of the invention ot the Swensen patent above mentioned, it is found that the spring closed patent valves inust each open a considerable distance, and

one or more must open under very light pressure, while the others must open a corresponding distance under very heavy pressure. The closing springs are limited as to the size, owing to the fact that they must be Within a comparatively small easing, Wherefore it has been found necessary, to secure the best results, to use springs of different size. lith the present invention, the defieetion of the springs in proportion to the amount of valve opening is so slight, that the adjustments for the valves may be entirely taken care of by my adjusting mechanism, Aand the sprinvs may be all the same size and yet the best results be obtained.

This adjusting mechanism comprises a bent spring` lever 55 fulcruined at 5G, with one end of the lever extending around an adjusting stem or rod 5l. rThe end of the rod adjacent the lever is threaded into a Ueshaped nut 58, whereby the tension in the lever holds the end 59 against the nut, while the free end of the lever retains the valve against the corresponding` valve seat. The stem 57 extends through the wall of the expression box and is provided with a button GO for turning it.

To prevent altering of the adjustment by unskilled persons, I provide a simple and effective locking means which is embodied in a screw G5, the head of which engages the flange 65 on the button '60. This locl: may be effective by making the flange separate from the button in the form of a Washer, in which case, the button and washer may be locked together by being threadedto the outer end of the stem 57.

The flexible strip 6l may be made of fabric impregnated with rubber, or of any suitable material which silences the operation of the valve and still possesses sufficient strength to withstand continuous bending, such as occurs on the lines where the members and 5l are hinged, and where the member 50 is anchored.

In operation, whenever any of the positive valves are closed, then the restrained air acts directly against the hinge of the corresponding yieldable valve whereupon the valve is collapsed, the free edge 53 of the strip 61 sliding along the under surface of the partition. Similarly, the spring lever slides along the groove 54, and in this way the valve may be operated without overcoming the full tension in the spring. IVhen the valve closes, the sliding action between the partition and spring, prevents a sudden engagement between the valve and seat, and thus insures quietness, with suflicient rapidity, to obtain etlicient operation.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that my invention may be readily attached to existing devices for overcoming objectionable features pertaining to the operation thereof. In addition, an expression de vice embodying my invention responds more readily than existing valves, and hence increases the degree of perfection with which selections may be reproduced.

Having thus described my invention, I. claim z- 1. In combination, a casing, a 'member carried by the casing and having an'opening therein, a valve hinged intermediately and disposed across the opening, there being a portion of the valve on each side of the hinge disposed opposite the opening, said valve having one end mounted stationary with reference to the member, and having the other end slidable on said member, a spring for normally holding said valve in closed position and means adjustable from a point outside the casing for varying the tension on said spring.

2. In combination, a casing, a partition fall carried by the 'casing for dividing it into a plurality of compartments, said partition having an opening therein, a valve hinged intermediate'ly and having a portion thereof on each side of the hinge for normally closing said opening, a spring for-urging the valveinto closed position, said spring being pivoted intermediately, and means oprable from a point outside the casing for moving the spring about the pivotal connection thereof to vary the tension with which the spring engages said valve.

In combination, a casing, a partition carriedby the casing for dividing it into a plurality of compartments, said partition having an opening therein, ya valve hinged intermediately and having a portion thereof on each side of the hinge disposed opposite the opening, said valve having one of the hinged portions rigidly mounted on the member and having the other hinged portion slidable on the partition, a spring bent intermediately and fulcrumed adjacent the bend, one end of said spring being inengagement with one of the hinged members for normally urging the valve into closed position, and the other end of said spring having a threaded engagementl with said spring opening for swinging the spring about the fulcrum to vary the tension with which the valve is herd against the seat, .said

ythreaded member extending outside the casing so as to permit adjustment of the spring from a point outside said casing.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aliix inv signature. i

CLINTON I'IJYLNSON.

CTI 

